A review by justkyliep
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Personally, I'm having an absolute blast. Scum Villain is an absolute riot of genre jokes and goofy tomfoolery that makes this a very fun read. MXTX plays with the isekai genre in such a delightful way, creating layered characters that are so frustrating in all the best ways. After several dark and serious fantasies in a row, it's nice to keep an ironic distance from the most dramatic plot points. 

I think (and Shen Yuan would agree) that the real star of this show, however, is the monsters. MXTX has such a way with creepy crawly horrifying things that go bump in the night that rides a perfectly gross line without becoming too much. Not only does the story provide on the characters, the humor, and the commentary, but excellent creatures keep the plot from dragging when the narrator knows (most) all of the twists.